The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
OTTAWA - The Consumers' Association of Canada wants meat-packing companies to pass on windfall profits they made from the BSE crisis to farmers devastated by its economic impact. If the packers won't fork over the estimated $200 million on their own, the association says the federal government should step in and order them to do so. "Consumers have been ripped off by the beef packers and retailers while farmers and ranchers are going broke," said Bruce Cran, the group's president, in a statement on Wednesday. "In fact, we are being gouged twice ? once by paying regular markups on product which was purchased at distress prices, and again through the $400 million taken from our taxes." Cran was referring to the $400 million in compensation programs that provincial and federal governments announced to help beef farmers survive until all international borders are once again open to Canadian beef. Toronto - Former U.S. president Bill Clinton was all smiles Thursday as he signed copies of his book for 1,000 fans at a bookstore in Toronto. People camped out overnight hoping to get into the downtown Indigo bookstore for a few seconds with Clinton and an autograph on a copy of My Life. Clinton was reportedly given a $10-million advance from the publisher. His popularity remains high, as events promoting the book have been attended by large crowds.
